Jobs worth

Supermarket manager
Supermarkets have a huge appetite for young people to train up as managers. Tesco, for example, is the UK's largest private sector employer with over 220,000 staff and 730 stores and recruits constantly.

Does a supermarket manager make enough to pay the mortgage? That would depend on where you want to live because salaries vary according to the type and size of store and its location. The average starting salary for graduate trainee managers among the major employers in the sector falls between £18,500 and £21,500. Tesco, for instance, says that it will aim to get all graduates who are selected for the company's Store Leadership Programme to the managerial ranks within five to eight years. At that point they can expect to earn between £40,000 and £50,000 depending on the size of the store and their individual managerial record.

Where do I sign up?It would be a clear advantage if as a student you had a part-time job at your local supermarket. Ian Kent, manager of the busy Tesco Metro in London's Oxford Street suggests that you pick up some retail experience and talk to supermarket managers in your area to gain an idea of what is expected of you.

Do I just boss around shelf stackers all day?'Fraid not. As a modern store manager you are responsible for reaching tough sales and profits targets. This could include organising sales promotions and ensuring that money making items are properly displayed. It is also your responsibility to attract and retain your customers. And remember you are held responsible for the health and safety and security of your staff and customers.

Who are the major players in the sector? Tesco, Asda, J Sainsbury, Safeway and William Morrison run about 2,000 stores between them. They all offer graduate training programmes.

Do I need to be a graduate to become a store manager?If you have earned your spurs working in a supermarket after leaving school most chains will be glad to hear from you, although supermarket employers first seek to fill vacancies through internal promotion. There are NVQ/SVQs available in Retail Operations Levels 2, 3 and 4 and in Retail Sales Delivery at Level 2. Supermarkets are also seeking more mature entrants with management experience in other fields.

What's the catch? Be prepared to sacrifice some weekends, and if you are someone who prefers to work at a gentle pace, you're not going to last. This is a hectic and very often high pressure working environment.

Where can I find out more
All supermarket chains have their own websites which advertise vacancies and training schemes.